What is the difference between the two following phrases, "at the service" and "at one's service"?

Question

For example, do the following sentences mean the same thing, "The A country is at the service of the XYZ reigon," and "The A country is at the XYZ region's service"?

Answer 1

Okay, essentially, they're the same. The thing is, though, just to be thoroughly pedantic, you *could* in theory read the second statement (The A country is at the XYZ region's service) as, for example, XYZ Region is holding a service of some kind, to which A Country has sent representatives.

The most correct version you're looking for is "at the service of", if you mean to the the bidding of.

If you mean an actual service (church, funeral, that kind of thing) then "at the region's service".

That is, of course, being extraordinarily picky.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

There seems to be no difference. But I could be wrong.